~hap.r. the Epi~le to the qalatians. andworkcsarc chefluningofthis light. Mu. A 5.16. ChriU bath redeemed them that be– lecuefromth~irvaineconu~r{Ari~~· J. ~et. I .. 18. 'Heremany ofvs doca;mlf~,ddiOyntng faith, and good life. And this fault is the greater, bccau{c it 1.5 an occafion to our aducrfancs to mi{l!kc,and reicd: our religion. Pau/r conucrfation bath two parts, his per– fcquution ofthc Church, and hi•profiting in hiS rcltgion. . Perfequution properly is thcafRidingof the peopleofGod for thm faith and reltgt– on.In this \Vcarcnot ro followPaul, bur to do rhccontr3rie, that is, by all mcanc:sto fcckc the goo1 of the Church. After Godsglory 1mrucdiatly, we arc to feeke the coming, and aduancement ofrhckm~dome ofGod. Now B thts kangdome, isacerta1ncellate and condi~ tion ofmen,whereby they fiand fubied to the wurd and fpirit ofGod. And this [ubietlion to God, andChrill, is the propcnieofthem that bememhersofrhe Church ofGod.All, both rich, andpoore, con(c(red (omctbmg (according to theirabdirie) ro the buildingof the Temple, wbic~ figured the C i1un:h of God. The foult of our time. is, that we bUlici our (clues 1 and our· worldly cUates, and ltttlc refpeel the common good of the Cburd1. In the perfequution ofthe Churchby Pa•l, two pointsarc tohcconfidered, the manner, andmcafurc,oraccompJJOJmcnt. Theman– ner is, that he pcrfcquured the Church •x- C t"c:lmdJ or a6ou~ 11uajiJr~. That which PAttl d1amhu reJig1un, we mull doetnours. The goodrh1ngs rhatwearcrodoe, ~·c:mufldoe Ecci,,:Io. themwitljaUottr mzghr. Our durie IS tokeepe our hearts in the tfarcofGod,andwe mu(t do lt 1••sd, Ill/diligenet, Prou.4,1.4lt isour duti..: to fecke GoJs kingdome& w~mufi tak,£s1witiJ v:oimu. To enter fnto life is our dury,and we murlPrifutoemer.Topray is our dury,andwe muGwra{li8inpr.ayer.Rom. IS.JO./o/ias rurne& to Godumh all hiS hearr_ The law reqUires, that we lhould loue G.,d, with all the powero of hoJy and [oule,and withal the £lrengrh of all the powers. In earthly things we mu£! 0 moderate our thoughts and cares,but fpiti– tuall duties mu{! be performed with all our mighr. The accompliOJmentofp<tf<quution,is, that P•ul wafted rhe Church, and made ha– uockcoflr. Here I confider z.. poinr&-;wh.tt is tP.if/td~ and wboistbcJvaftcr? For the tirll,ir is the church. Here >.quellionsmay hedeman– ded:thefit!l is,how tl1c church can fue walled! An(w. In refpetloftheinwarddlatethereof, which Uandl. in clcttio!l, faith, iullification, ;lorJfication, it cannot be waGed. In rc!pett ofher our~·ard clfatc,ir may be waJled 1 thar1s, in refpcctofmem bodici,and!n regardofthe puhltke alfembltes, and theexetc~fes ofrdi– gion. The Cecond qudlion is,why God[utFers his cne;1"1ics towaft his owneChurch. A<l{w, [udgemcmbeginnes in Gods houfe, ;nd h1s iudgcmcmsfomCiimcarc v"-ry tltarpe, whe rher rhcy be mfhctcd for tna!l or correCbon oftinncs pa(t, or tOr the preucnting-ofiirrn~& eo come~As111 chebodic(ometlmerhcrc tS.n·o hopeof l1fc, except arrncs , and Jegges becut olf:euen (o i"t in the Churoh. Hence it.np– peares~that rhere iltal be a~aft iudgement,and thatthercu alrtc cucrla!ling in heauen ~becaufe the wicked man flouriOteth in thi• wodd, and thegodly areoften <>?prelfed_ The wallcr(Jfthcchurch is P•ul.By whom wclearnc chat tinne,wherc Jt rakes place,giucs a man no rclt till it harh brought him to a height ofwiokednclfc. Hatred hauingenrred llltO C:1incs heart, Jeaucs hmlnot,tilllt haue eaufed him to imbrue his hands 111 his bro- , thel's blood. Couerou!hclfe makes l•d•J at length to betray his maficr, and bang him– felf<. Blind zealemakcs p,m/noronly to per– fecure,but alfo to wall the Church.Therefore 1t isgood ruauoide the fidl begmning~, yea (he: veryoccafiOn oftinne. Thefeeond part and point in Pa•bcon– ucrfarion, is, that he profits·in his religion. Thus Owuld weprofittn theGtifpd of( hrifl. Iris Gods commaundcmer.t, BeyeperfeGl, 111 yom· b~Aumly f4the,· isp.:rfeU t'har is)indcauour, Mac\ S• 4 8 · toccmctoperfettion. All tbefairh wehauc orcanobcaincis lmle enough in the timeof temptation. lob that (aid in hi• afRiClion, rh~ugh the Lord ~11 meeJJPill (till t~~t/1 i'J h~m, Iob.rj.l$. fa.lth :lllo, tblt &od »'rol httter thmgJ agamfl y,t 6 , h1m 1 11.nd ,Mdehim topojftj{e t h~ (innu'[hisyourh~ lt1satokenrhaca man is dead in his finnes, ~he,, he doth not grow, or iocrcal~ in good thing•,-'.P<t. 2. •· In thtsregardgreat os the fault of our daies, fOr many are u:carie ot the • gofpeJ,many lland at aClay wirhour prcfiting; many goe backeward.The caufc is this.Com– monly men liucas itwere without the Jaw;:m£1 thinkeit fufficient, tfthey due notgrolfely of. fer.d: norconlidering that the law of God, is law to ourrhoughrs, and affections,and all the circumllances of our aflioru. That we may lmeafier mak egood proceedin~s in our religion, we mufl. remember rbree caueats. One) thar we mufl indeauour rofcc, and recle in our [eluesthe fmallnelfc of our faith, re– pentance, feare.of God, &c. and the great malfcofcorruptionrhat is in vs. Thus with the beggar, we lhall bealwaies ptecing, and mending ourgarmenr. Thefecond, that as rrauclJcrs, we mufi forg~t things paCl, and goe on to doe more good, Phi!. 3· r4· The third, that we muCl fetbefore'vs the crowne of cternall glorie, and feeke ro apprehend it, 1. Ttm. 6. vetC. I 1. thus dtd M•fo He– brcw.u. In l'a•ls profiting rwo things mufl be con. fidered,the mea{ure,and the thing mwhich he profited. The meafure,in tb<t beP"fiuA"boHf many oth~r1, Hence we Jearne 1 that in mat– tct< of religion there thould be an holy e– mulation andcontentionamong vs: and our fault is, that we comt:nd who tha!J haue the P 1 moCI
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